Shauna Corr

A Mid Ulster club owner “feels extremely let down” after an entertainment agency supplied a man on the sex offenders register for a teen event.

Andrew Collins, a 32-year-old with dwarfism, appeared as a Leprechaun at the nightclub’s alcohol-free St Patrick’s party.

In 2014, he was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence when convicted of forcing his way into a woman’s home and exposing himself.

He was also ordered to sign the sex-offenders’ register for seven years.

A Mid Ulster mum contacted the Mail to voice her concern at the man’s appearance at a teenage event, that he child had attended.

She said Collins ”was dressed as a Leprechaun” and that there “was loads of photos of him with the kids”.

It is understood these have since been removed from the venue’s Facebook page.

Following the discovery that Collins is on the sex offenders’ register the club has terminated all business with the entertainment company, which they said was behind the booking.

A statement to the Mail said: “We were naturally shocked and appalled to find out that an entertainer supplied to us by an established booking agency is currently on the sex offenders register.

“All of our entertainers are supplied by third party agencies on whom we rely to ensure that all proper checks and balances are in place to prevent situations such as this occurring.

“On this particular occasion, we booked our acts through the Sapphire Entertainment Company and we feel extremely let down that the entertainment they supplied was highly inappropriate.

“Obviously, had we been aware of his past, this particular individual would never have been allowed to perform at our club – although we feel it only fair to point out that there was no suggestion of any inappropriate behaviour whatsoever during his appearance at our venue.

“As soon as we were made aware of this situation, we contacted the agency to register our unhappiness and immediately carried out a review of our entertainment supply channels to ensure that this never happens again.

“As a result we have terminated, with immediate effect, our working relationship with the Sapphire entertainment agency.”

Sapphire Entertainment had not responded to requests for a comment at the time of going to print.